Col. Ron WilsonCol. Ron Wilson,commander of the Battle Creek Air National Guard, talks about the missile defense system proposed by the U.S. Department of Defense. Fort Custer is among four sites being considered.

KALAMAZOO, MI -- If the government is going to spend lots of money, Southwest Michigan might as well be the recipient, some say.

But if building a missile defense system at Fort Custer Training Center, which straddles the Kalamazoo and Calhoun county border line, makes us a bigger target for hostile enemies, maybe it's not such a great idea, others say.

"I do not believe that this increases our target threat ability because Battle Creek has housed many or several federal DOD (U.S. Department of Defense) and other federal agencies over a long period of time," said Lt. Col. Mark Gorzynski, commander of the Fort Custer Training Center in Augusta. "This does not increase our threat."

The idea of building an intercontinental missile defense system -- called the Ground Based Interceptor Ballistic Missile Defense Mission -- is generating a fair amount of discussion as the Department of Defense considers Fort Custer and three of sites for the project.

"Currently the requirement is to establish a feasible location for a proposed construction of an East Coast-based interceptor missile site," Gorzynski said. "Fort Custer is one of four locations going through an environmental impact study to determine the feasibility of the four locations should the need be required to deploy an East Coast-based missile system."

The intent is to build a system to protect the eastern United States from any attacking long-range missiles fired at the U.S. The system would "shoot a bullet with a bullet," the military has said. It would deploy fast-moving, interceptor missiles to impact and destroy any warheads shot at the U.S.

Economic development officials say the project will mean 300 new jobs directly and up to 1,800 jobs indirectly, pumping $3.2 billion into Southwest Michigan's economy.

But some are questioning the expense and need for the system.

"This is a missile defense against who?" Russia?" reader Holland Sparty asked in online. "Last I checked they were the only ones with missiles capable of hitting U.S. soil."

Reader David took issue with assertions by longtime Kalamazoo city commissioner and associate professor of social work at Western Michigan University Don Cooney in a weekend story that missile defense systems don't work?

David wrote, "How about the Aegis Systems on navy cruisers and destroyers currently being used by Japan, S. Korea, Australia, Spain and the U.S. as well as land based systems in the U.S. and Europe? Do none of these work? Are they not providing jobs and supporting a local economy as well as jobs around the nation? Would you care to comment on the effectiveness of the Israel iron dome (missile defense) system currently being used in the recent conflict with Hamas?"

Military officials say the threat of attack in the coming years is real, that North Korea is looking to improve its missile attack capabilities and that Iran is working to develop missiles, including nuclear warheads.

"If we don't pay attention to it, it's going to sneak up and bite us one day, and it will be too late," said Col. Ron Wilson, commander of the Battle Creek Air National Guard.

Gorzynski said, "Fort Custer is a strong candidate (for the missile defense system). It has two separate locations that meet the operation deployability requirements for the system, meaning we have enough territory to separately identify two potential construction sites to meet the environmental need for construction of a feasible location."

But he and others stressed that while the DOD is laying the groundwork for construction of a system, Congress has not approved it.

Will international events have a big influence on whether the project goes forward or not?

Wilson said, "If you look at what's going on in Israel right now, that's a good key factor. At least it has to help (with the decision-making) because theirs (their missile defense system) has been very successful. It's a different system, different size and different scope. But just the fact that they have been able to save their citizens has to have some kind of impact. If you look at how world events are going right now, everywhere you turn ..."

The public is invited to attend meetings to provide input that the Missile Defense Agency and the Michigan Army National Guard will use to help put together an environmental impact study of the proposed missile defense project.

The study is expected to address a slate of issues that may be of concern to the communities involved. They include: safety, quality of life, labor-related issues, population increase and associated effects, the impact on recreation, traffic increase, utility requirements, availability and cost of civilian housing, noise, land use, visual and aesthetic issues, transportation, hazardous materials management and hazardous waste management.

Those wanting to offer input, or who want more information, have opportunities at:

-6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 28 in The Great Hall at the Sherman Lake YMCA, 6225 N. 39th St. in Augusta.

During the meetings, called "public scoping," the public may: − Review the description of the proposed action and alternatives;− Ask questions and interact with subject matter experts;− Identify issues of interest;− Provide input to development of alternatives;− Submit comments or provide oral comments to a court recorder;− Sign up to receive more information.